Confirmed: Arsenal receive fantastic news ahead of first match of 2018/19 season

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey returned to training on Thursday ahead of Sunday’s opening Premier League game against Manchester City.

The 27-year-old had been a doubt for the Emirates Stadium clash after suffering a calf injury in the warm-up prior to a pre-season friendly against Chelsea on August 1.

The Wales international was named in Unai Emery’s starting eleven and was due to take on Chelsea in an International Champions Cup friendly in Dublin but he was replaced by youth star Emile Smith Rowe after pulling up before kick-off.

The Gunners also confirmed Sead Kolasinac will be out for 8-10 weeks with an injury to his left knee, while centre-back Laurent Koscielny is aiming to return to training at the end of the year following a serious injury to his Achilles at the end of last season.

Ramsey is also reportedly close to reaching an agreement over a new contract with the north London side.

The 27-year-old has less than 12 months left on his current deal and Arsenal risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.

Chelsea were reportedly ready to spend £35m on him as Arsenal considered whether to cash in on the player. But according to the Daily Telegraph, the Gunners are close to finalising the terms of a new contract with Ramsey.